NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Human growth hormone (hGH) testing is a hot topic in the world of sports right now. The NFL recently came under fire for failing to implement such testing, despite agreeing it would clear back in August of 2011 (check out this rather scathing article on USAToday.com). Then in a December 12, 2012 Congressional Hearing regarding the matter, expert witnesses agreed that if there were a substance capable of increasing hGH levels in the body naturally, as opposed to introducing synthetic hGH into the body the way banned recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) injections do, such a rise in hGH levels would not be detectable by standard anti-doping tests.

And — believe it or not — such a substance actually exists and was just introduced to the U.S. market. So when Major League Baseball announced yesterday that it would begin testing for hGH during its regular 2013 season, some people couldn't help but wonder if this sudden commitment to testing had anything to do with the new, undetectable hGH booster that could give athletes all the purported benefits of increased growth hormone levels… without getting caught. So, does it? A lot of people want to know.

The tiny little pill that's at the center of the controversy is called Growth Factor-9™ from Novex Biotech®. It first began making headlines when the research behind it was presented at the prestigious Obesity Society's 30th Annual Scientific Meeting in September of 2012. A group of some of the most renowned scientists in the world revealed that finally, after 30 years of research, a compound had been discovered that could increase hGH levels in the body naturally… without synthetic rhGH injections.

hGH is produced in the body by the pituitary gland, but as we age, our body's production of this essential hormone begins to drop dramatically. The touted ability of rhGH injections to increase heart, lung, and muscle function by increasing hGH levels has made it a favorite among many professional athletes and has caused it to be banned by virtually every major governing body in the sporting world. But Growth Factor-9 — or GF-9, as many are calling it — is completely different from these banned injections, because rather than introducing a synthetic form of hGH into the body, it raises human growth hormone levels by encouraging pituitary health.

And the Congressional Hearing in December made it clear that the increase in hGH levels offered by GF-9 would not be detectable by anti-doping tests. Dr. Larry Bowers, Chief Science Officer for the United States Anti-Doping Agency who testified at the hearing[i], explained, "The body produces many forms of growth hormone in the pituitary gland… Because recombinant (synthetic) growth hormone is only comprised of 22 kD, in persons who have been doping with recombinant growth hormone, the ratio of 22 kD relative to the other isoforms will be higher than found in the normal population." But because Growth Factor-9 raises hGH levels through the body's natural process and does NOT introduce synthetic hGH, there are no abnormally high levels of 22kd.

And now many fear GF-9 will rapidly become the "cheat pill" some high-profile professional athletes are looking for to give them all the advantages of increased hGH levels… without the fear of being sanctioned for illegal rhGH use. And those who believe in conspiracy theories are speculating that now that this undetectable "growth hormone" pill has been discovered, it won't be long before many professional sporting bodies begin turning to it to give their athletes an edge. Will it happen? Who knows. But one thing is for sure: the sales of GF- 9 are skyrocketing. As a matter of fact, the company reports a 1500% increase in sales at GNC in the last month alone.

Of course, some are saying Growth Factor-9 is too good to be true. So is there a catch? Actually, there are three. First, as with hGH injections, Growth Factor-9 is not a "magic bullet" but one part of a total program — you still have to eat right and work out.

Second, unlike injections of synthetic growth hormone, the GF-9 pill needs to be taken on an empty stomach. That means you either have to take it first thing in the morning and then not eat anything for two hours, or take it at night, at least two hours after your last meal... before you go to bed.

And last but not least, while Growth Factor-9 is far less expensive than prescription hGH injections, it's still not cheap… Growth Factor-9 will cost you about $100 a month.

But is it worth it? Cutting fat and building muscle while giving you plenty of energy and improving sex drive should be a no brainer. However, make no mistake about it, the "established" medical community (and, of course, they know everything) would say its benefits are largely anecdotal, with research that's preliminary. But there's no denying that something that has a chance of helping you get in the best shape of your life — without getting caught — is... at the very least... irresistible.

Growth Factor-9 is currently being sold exclusively at GNC and is — as you can imagine — selling like hotcakes. But while GF-9 has the exclusive rights in the sports market, the proprietary growth hormone-boosting formula is also being sold under the trade name SeroVital-hgh in health and beauty stores, so it might not be impossible for athletes to get their hands on the stuff if they don't mind shopping at the beauty chain Ulta. If GF-9 is unavailable at GNC you can get it directly from Novex Biotech at www.NovexBiotech.com.

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